Gender Representations In No Sugar
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Discuss the representations of female characters in No Sugar. How do female characters in the play challenge and/or reinforce traditional gender discourse?
Written by Australian playwright Jack Davis in 1985, the protest play No Sugar follows the journey of a Nyoongah family, the Millimurras, and the hardships and struggles they face during the Great Depression of the 1930s. It was during that period where both European and Aboriginal women were very much marginalized by society and still played the traditional role of mother, wife and nurturer. Jack Davis reinforces certain aspects of traditional gender discourse in No Sugar and “uses women on the stage in conventional ways to emphasize continuity and tradition, nourishment and care”. However, at the same time, he infuses female characters, such as Matron Neal, with male characteristics in an attempt to challenge other aspects of the traditional gender discourse. He does this through the use of theatrical conventions such as characterization, stage directions, props and costumes.
“Women traditionally played a central role within the Aboriginal family, within Aboriginal government and in spiritual ceremonies”. Gran Munday portrays a very traditional Aboriginal woman. As the female Aboriginal elder of the family, she is the matriarch of the family and the embodiment of strength, a portrayal that strongly supports the traditional Aboriginal gender discourse. At the same time, she fulfils the role of homemaker and nurturer. Jack Davis portrays this through the use of theatrical conventions such as stage directions. As seen in the opening scene, “Gran and Milly sort clothes for washing” and when Jimmy nicks his finger on the axe, she “gives him a cloth for it”. The use of stage direction constantly shows that Gran is very in tune with the needs of the family and reinforces the traditional Aboriginal female discourse by illustrating her responsibilities in the domestic sphere. The Aboriginal elders during the contextual period were very self sufficient and were able to manipulate natural resources to suit their needs. Jack Davis also allows Gran to be seen as self-sufficient and independent. Through the course of the play, the audience realizes that Gran is able to make flour using natural resources as well as aid in the birth of a baby. She is also knowledgeable in the using of medicinal leaves as seen in Act IV Scene III where she “fetches some medical leaves”. The use of stage direction and dialogue thus shows that Gran is knowledgeable in the traditional female roles.
In a traditional European society, females were seen “as a part of nature, not culture. Either they are passive, childlike, unsophisticated, needing leadership and guidance”. Mary Dargurru is of the third generation in the Millimurra family and thus due to the assimilation process, follows the traditional European female discourse. Jack Davis portrays her as a typical submissive female in a patriarchal society as she allows Joe to boss her around. She is frequently put on the pedestal and is desired based on her physical attributes. This is evident when she tells Joe that she “doesnt like the way Mr Neal looks at [her]”. This shows that she reinforces the traditional European female discourse where the female is only looked at. She is also a “give girl” whereby in Aboriginal culture means that as a female, she can be betroth to any male who desires her. This serves to highlight her submissive female attributes in both the European and Aboriginal spheres. However, towards the end of the play, Mary Dargurru is shown to have gained some of the traditional Aboriginal female strength and is able to speak her mind. She challenges Mr. Neal and refuses to give in although very aware of the consequences which will follow. She proudly tells Joe that she “wouldnt knuckle under to [Mr Neal]” and “told [Mr Neal] to go to hell”. This change in her character could perhaps be representative of her struggle against a restrictive patriarchal society and she thus returns to her Aboriginal heritage of being the typically strong female Aboriginal.
Traditionally, European females are described as “always in terms of lack – no initiative, no intellectual powers, no perseverance” . However, Jack Davis, as a traditional Aboriginal male has